South Australia is the fourth largest state in Australia by size and population, with a diverse economy focused on agriculture, mining exports, and manufacturing. Its state emblems include the Sturt’s Desert Pea, Lesser Shrike, Hairy-nosed Wombat, Opal, and Leafy Seadragon. The state is mainly located in the temperate zone and has a coastline of 3,148 miles. Adelaide, the capital, is located near the Murray River where the Aboriginal population was mainly located.
South Australia is one of Australia’s 6 states and 2 territories, along with New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. South Australia is located in the south-central part of the country and borders all major divisions of Australia except the Australian Capital Territory. It is bordered by Western Australia to the west, the Northern Territory to the north, Queensland to the northeast corner, and New South Wales and Victoria to the east. Its southern boundary is on the water of the Great Australian Bight and Spencer Gulf.
South Australia is both the fourth largest in size at 379,725 square miles (983,482 sq km) – which is 13% of the land area in Australia. It is also the fourth largest by population with a 2006 population of 1,568,200. South Australia has 3,148 miles (5,067 km) of coastline, and is completely in the temperate zone. The highest point is Mount Woodroffe at 4,708 feet (1,435 m), and most of the state is plains and lowlands.
South Australia is nicknamed Festival State and its motto is simply its name. Its state emblems are as follows:
State Floral Emblem: Sturt’s Desert Pea, the largest plant in the state. It has gray leaves and scarlet flowers.
State Bird: Lesser Shrike or White-backed Magpie
State animal: Hairy-nosed or lowland wombat, found only in South Australia and small parts of Western Australia.
Status Gemstone: Opal. South Australia boasts three major opal deposits and these fields supply around 80% of the world’s opals.
State Marine Emblem: Leafy Seadragon, a marine fish related to the seahorse. Its leafy appendages help camouflage it.
The state flag of South Australia features a Union Jack in the upper left and a blue field featuring a Rising Sun with an Australian Piping Shrike or White-backed Magpie superimposed. The state badge has the same symbol, as does the South Australian state coat of arms. But a stick of Gum Tree and sprigs of Sturt’s Desert Pea also appear on the coat of arms, along with stalks of wheat and barley, citrus fruits, cogwheels and a miner’s pick to represent the state’s products and industry.
South Australia had been inhabited for around 34,000 years – not as long as some other regions of Australia, if the evidence is complete – when Europeans arrived. Like the population of South Australia today, the Aboriginal population was mainly located near the Murray River, and this is where the capital, Adelaide, is located in the present tense.
South Australia’s economy is centered on agriculture, mining exports and manufacturing for domestic markets. The northern part of the state is largely dry and arid, but the southern part is fertile and well-watered. Wheat and barley are grown on farms, and the northern deserts are used for free-range cattle ranching. Sheep, pigs, poultry and dairy cattle are also important, as are grapes and orchard crops. South Australia boasts over two-fifths of Australia’s vineyards.
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